Steam injector for internal-combustion engines



Feb. 9 1926. 1,572,278

, H. G. FLETCHER STEAM INJECTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES FiledFeb. 26, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 9 1926.

H. G. FLETCHER STEAM INJECTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Feb.26, 92 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 9, 1926. I

UNITED STATES HUBER! G. FLETCHER, LONG, ARKANSAS.

STEAK INJECTOR FOB INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed February 26, 1924. Serial No. 895,282.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hunna'r G. FLETCHER, f

a citizen of the United States, residin at Lonoke, in the county ofLonoke and tate of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Imrovements in Steam Injectors for Internalombustion Engines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to steam injectors for the carbureters ofinternal combustion engines.

It is a well known fact that the injection of heated air, steam, orvapor to mix with the charge from a carbureter to an internal combustionengine enhances the explosive effect or power derived from thecarbureted mixture; many systems and appliances have been provided forfeeding air, steam, or va por for this purpose.

My object 1s to provide a novel system or appliance by which thequantity of moisture in the vapor or steam derived from the radiator ofthe engine is reduced to the point where the vapor mixes mosteffectively with the carbureted mixture in the mixing chamber of thecarburetor thus forming a more highly volatile, explosive, and powerfulmixture or charge to be sent to the engine than ordinarily which notonly enables the engine to derive more power from the mixture but alsoeconomizes in the gasoline consumption.

A further object is the rovision of a novel system or appliance o thecharacter set forth by which, when the engine is first started, orturned over, a certain quantity of moisture will be drawn into themixing chamber of the carbureter to blend with the charge and to assistin starting, even before 49 the temperature of the water in the coolingsystem of the engine has been ralsed sufliciently to provide the vaporwhich my 1mproved system superheats and furnishes to the carbureterafter the engine has started.

A practical embodiment of my invention takes the vapor or steam, as thecase may be, from the radiator of the engine, treats it in a vacuumtank, superheats, so to speak, the

vapor or stem, an passes the dry, or rela- 50 tively dry, steam to themixing chamber of the carbureter. The vacuum tank in my inventionconstitutes an important part or feature thereof because it provides forthe expansian 0f the water vapor derived from the radiator, causes aprecipitation of water mm the vapor and insures the delivery from thevacuum tank of a more volatile and drier form of vapor or steam. Theexpansion and refining of the vapor in the vacuum tank eliminates such aquantity of moisture or water therefrom that the dried, or relativelydried, vapor passing from the vacuum ta is in a condition enabling it tomix most effectively with the charge in the mixing chamber of thecarbureter. The vacuum tank also acts as an equalizer or stabilizer ofthe quantity of moisture delivered to the carbureter mixing chamber andthereby insures an even or uniform flow of moisture and a resultant evenand uniform flow of power from the engine. The vacuum tank y permittmgthe passage to the carbureter only of relatlvely light, hot, live steam,prevents the lowering of the temperature of the heating chamber of theheater which I utilize to dry the vapor or steam before it is finallypassed to the carbureter; this insures a better mixture in thecarbureter.

While the invention will operate without the use of a heater, I havefound that it is preferable to employ a heater, interposed in the feedline from the vacuum tank to the carbureter for the purpose of dryingthe vapor or steam; this heater may be conveniently attached to theexhaust manifold of 86 the engine and it may assume the form of a stove.

Another feature of the invention which is of peculiar advantage, is theprovision of a trap' or seal in the pipe line connecting the vacuum tankto the radiator for the purpose of preventing the vacuum in the tankfrom being lowered by the admission of atmospheric pressure; this sealor trap also may e provided with a pet cock to enable draining to be-hadto prevent freezing in winter.

The vacuum tank is preferably provided with an automatic water relieffloat so that the recipitated Water may drain when it reac es apredetermined level.

It is to be understood that the vacuum tank forming a part of the"present invention is an entirely separate and distinct thing from ,whatis known as the usual vacuum tank of an internal combustion engine, suchlast named tank being used for the gasoline feed.

I am aware that modifications may be resorted to in carrying out theinvention without departing from the essential principles thereof and Ireserve the right to modify the invention within the spirit and scopethereof.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the invention applied to anautomobile eng ne.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section, partly in full lines, of thevacuum tank.

Fig. 3 is a detail section of the heater.

Fig. 4 is afront elevation thereof: and

Fig. 5 is an end elevation showing the manner in which the heater issecured tothe exhaust pipe or manifold.

The engine appears at 1 and the radiator at 2. The carbureter 3 may beof any construction. The exhaust pipe and manifold are shown at 4. Ihave illustrated the invention in connection with an automobile engine,but it will be understood that the appliance or system may be used withany internal combustion engine whether stationary or mounted on a landor water vehicle.

The radiator overflow pipe is shown at 5. Preferably, although notnecessarily, the system is arranged to receive the vapor or steam frompipe 5 but it will be understood that the vapor or steam could bederived from the extreme upper part of the radiator, above the waterline.

The improved vacuum tank employed in connection with the inventionappears at 6 and is shown in detail in Fig. 2. The upper part of thistank is connected by a pipe or tube 7 to the overflow pipe 5 or theextreme upper part of the radiator. For the purpose of providing a trapor seal to catch the water of condensation, the pipe 7 has a bend orelbow 8 which is provided with a' pet cock 9 so that it may be drainedin winter to prevent freezing. The trap or elbow 8 maintains the propervacuum in the tank 6 as the water in said trap or seal tends to preventthe atmosphere from having access to the tank 6 through the pipe 7.

The vacuum tank 6 is preferably provided with a splash wire screen orpartition 10 in its upper part which prevents excessive splash of thewater, precipitated from the vapor or steam, that collects in the bottomof the tank.

The bottom'of the tank is provided with a valve seat 11 to which isconnected a tube or pipe 12 by which drainage. under the control of afloat 13, is permitted.

The float 13 is carried by a stem 14 and carries a valve 15 which isadapted to rest on seat 11. The stem 14 is guided in a hearing 16 on aframe 17 which is secured to the bottom of the tank 6. A coil spring 19,surrounding stem 14 and interposed between float l3 and frame 17,normally keeps the valve 15 tightly closed against the seat 11. When,however, the accumulation ,of pm cipitated water in the bottom of tank 6reaches a certain level, the float rises and lets ofli' the excess andthen closes. The purpose of maintaining water in the tank 6 is to afforda certain degree of moisture which may be drawn into the carbureter whenthe engine is first turned over or started, to facilitate starting andincrease the power at that time.

The vapor or steam entering the vacuum tank 6 through the pipe 7 may bedelivered directly to the carbureter 3 but to obtain the best results itis preferable to heat or dry the vapor or steam. To that end, there isprovided a heater 19 which may be of any preferred form, said heaterbeing attached in any suitable manner to the exhaust manifold 4 or pipeas shown in Fig. 1.

The vapor or steam is conducted by a pipe 20 from the top of the tank 6to the heater 19' and after passing through said heater it enters a pipe21 which delivers it to the carbureter 3.

A practical form of heater 19" is that shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4 and5, said heater having an inlet nipple 22, cells or chambers 23, and anoutlet nipple 24 and being curved to fit the manifold or the exhaustpipe. A suitable clamp 25 secures the heater in position.

It will be understood that the suction of the engine creates the vacuumin tank 6 and causes the vapor or steam to be drawn into the tankthrough the pipe 7 but as the seal 8 is provided the lowering of thevacuum due to access of the atmosphere is minim ized. The vapor or steamdrawn into the tank 6 carries a very considerable percentage ofmoisture. The vacuum existing in tank 6 causes an expansion of the vaporor steam which results in precipitation of a very considerable amount.of the water in the vapor or steam and this collects in the bottom ofthe tank but is relieved by the rising of float 13 in the mannerpreviously set forth. The suction of the en 'ne draws the dried vapor orsteam into t e mixing chamber of the carbureter where it blends with thecharge to brin about effects pre viously described. By t e provision ofthe heater 19 the steam or vapor is rendered even drier than were saidheater not used, with resultant volatility steam, and thus superiorresults are obtained in the carbureted charge.

then the engine is cold, he first crankings or turnings over will resultin moisture laden air 'bein drawn from the tank 6 into the enginecylinders to assist in operation. even before the temperature of thewater in the radiator is sufiiciently high to give oif vapor. As soon asvapor begins to enter the system, increased power in the engine willresult. i I

I clean:

of the vapor or 1. In a steam injector for internal combustion engines,the combination witha vacuum tank independent of the usual gasolinevacuum tank, of means for supplying vapor or steam from the engineradlator to said tank, and a conduit for delivering vapor or steam fromsaid vacuum tank to mix with the charge for the engine. a

2. In a steam injector for internal combustion engines, the combinationwith a vacuum tank independent of the usual gasoline vacuum tank, ofmeans for supplying vapor or steam from the engine radiator to saidtank, and a conduit for delivering vapor or steam from said vacuum tankto mix with the charge for the engine. said conduit enabling the suctionof the engine to effect a vacuum condition in said vacuum tank.

3. In a steam injector for internal com- 1 bustion engines, thecombination with a vac- 20 uum tank independent of the usual gasolinevacuum tank, of a pipe for supplying vapor or steam from the engineradiator to said tank, said pipe being provided with a water seal ortrap to minimize the admission of 25 air to the vacuum tank, whereby thevacuum is maintained in said tank, and a conduit for delivering vapor orsteam from said vacuum tank to mix with the charge for theen ine. I

n testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

. HUBERT G. FLETCHER.

